Wallet consolidator

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for warehousing information in a wallet consolidator. The wallet consolidator includes a controller for controlling operation of the wallet consolidator, a magnetic stripe reader/writer for reading and writing magnetic stripes, a bar code scanner for scanning bar codes, a keypad for inputting user selections and commands, a memory for storing information provided to the wallet consolidator, a smart card interface for effectuating communication between the wallet consolidator and a smart card and a display screen for displaying text and graphics, the display screen further for displaying a bar code pattern capable of being scanned by a bar code reader. To store information in the wallet consolidator, or alternatively in a smart card interfaced to the wallet consolidator, information is read from magnetic stripes on various types of cards such as, but not limited to, credit, debit and identification cards. Additionally, images of the cards including, but not limited to, signatures and portraits are downloaded and stored. A user retrieves the information from any of the stored magnetic stripes and writes the information to a single magnetic stripe for use in a point of sale transaction. Similarly, stored images are retrieved and displayed on a display screen including a bar code which can be scanned by a bar code scanner.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention pertains in general to the use ofelectronic smart cards for the storage of information pertaining toelectronic commerce and consumer identification, and in particular, butnot by way of limitation, to a method and apparatus for the warehousingand retrieval of information pertaining to credit cards, debit cards,identification cards and other selected data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In today's electronic commerce there has been a proliferation inthe use of various types of credit, debit, identification and othertypes of authorization cards. For example, an average individual islikely to carry a driver's licence, several credit and/or debit cards,an identification card for access to a health club, an identificationcard to gain access to a place of employment and an access card to gainentry into a parking garage, among others. Furthermore, with advances inelectronic commerce, smart cards are likely to replace paper and coinmoney resulting in an additional card for consumers to carry. Each ofthese cards typically incorporates a magnetic stripe or bar code tofacilitate easy recognition of the card and to store various types ofdata. Although the use of these cards allow for easy and efficientelectronic commerce, the number of such cards quickly becomes cumbersomeand many individuals find carrying the large number of cardsinconvenient.

[0003] Attempts have been made to use a single smart card to hold thevarious information contained on several cards. These attempts, however,involve the downloading of information from the smart card provider anddo not allow a smart card user to control the contents of the device byadding additional information from newly issued cards or removinginformation from discontinued cards.

[0004] It would be advantageous, therefore, to devise a method andapparatus for consolidating the various cards, and other types ofinformation, which individuals typically carry in a wallet or purse. Itwould further be advantageous if such a method and apparatus stored theinformation in a central location and facilitated the use of a singlemulti-purpose card. It would still further be advantageous if such amethod and apparatus allowed the user of the method and apparatus theability to control the stored information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention comprises a method and apparatus forwarehousing information in a wallet consolidator. The walletconsolidator includes a controller for controlling operation of thewallet consolidator, a magnetic stripe reader/writer for reading andwriting magnetic stripes, a bar code scanner for scanning bar codes, akeypad for inputting user selections and commands, a memory for storinginformation provided to the wallet consolidator, a smart card interfacefor effectuating communication between the wallet consolidator and asmart card and a display screen for displaying text and graphics, thedisplay screen further for displaying a bar code pattern capable ofbeing scanned by a bar code scanner.

[0006] To store information in the wallet consolidator, or alternativelyin a smart card interfaced to the wallet consolidator, information isread from magnetic stripes on various types of cards such as, but notlimited to, credit, debit and identification cards. A bar code scannerallows a bar code to be scanned from a card and stored in memory.Additionally, images of the cards including, but not limited to,signatures, portraits can be downloaded, and with sufficient memory,stored for future use. A user retrieves information from any of thestored magnetic stripes and writes the information to a single magneticstripe for use in a point of sale transaction. Similarly, stored imagesare retrieved and displayed on a display screen including a bar codewhich can be scanned by a bar code scanner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] A more complete understanding of the present invention may be hadby reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the wallet consolidator;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a preferred method for consolidatingcard information using the wallet consolidator described in FIG. 1; and

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wallet consolidator consistentwith a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a functional blockdiagram of a wallet consolidator shown generally at 100. The functionalcomponents of the wallet consolidator 100 include a controller 110, amemory 120, a user input cluster 130, a data interface 140, a keypad150, a telephone interface 160, a smart card interface 170, a bar codescanner 180, an infrared transceiver 190, a display screen 200, a radiofrequency transceiver 210 and a magnetic stripe reader/writer 220.

[0012] The controller 110, controls the overall operation of the walletconsolidator 100 including the coordination of the various functionalblocks. The magnetic stripe reader/writer 220 is used to read and writeinformation from and to magnetic stripes used on credit cards, debitcards and identification cards among others. Information read from themagnetic stripes by the magnetic stripe reader/writer 220 is stored inthe memory 120 of the wallet consolidator 100. In an alternativeembodiment, the information is stored in a memory located within a smartcard which is commonly known in the industry. In situations where theinformation from the magnetic stripe is stored in the memory of thesmart card, the information is written into the memory of the smart cardusing the smart card interface 170. The smart card interface 170effectuates reading and writing from and to the smart card.

[0013] A keypad 160, is used as a user input for inputting informationor indicating selections and actions to the wallet consolidator 100. Inthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, the keypad 160 is anumeric keypad, however; in an alternative embodiment the keypad 160 isan alphanumeric keypad. The user cluster 130 provides an additional userinput for communicating selections and actions to the walletconsolidator 100. While it is understood that the user input cluster 130can have any number of input buttons, the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention includes an up and a down button for moving throughoptions provided to the user on the display screen 200, a delete buttonfor removing items from the display screen and an activate button formaking a selection and/or enabling an action by the wallet consolidator100.

[0014] The bar code scanner 180 allows a user to scan a bar code on theface of identification, credit, debit and other types of cards and tostore the bar code in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator, oralternatively, in the memory of the smart card. In either event, theuser can select the bar code for display on the display screen 200 suchthat the bar code, as displayed on the display screen 200, is readableby a bar code scanner.

[0015] In addition to displaying items stored in the memory 120 of thewallet consolidator 100, or alternatively the memory of the smart card,the display screen 200 is used for programming and/or otherwisecontrolling operation of the wallet consolidator 100. For example, thedisplay screen 200, in conjunction with the keypad 150 and/or the userinput cluster 130, is used by the user to input a passcode to gainaccess to the wallet consolidator 100. In an alternative embodiment, thekeypad 150 is effectuated using a touch sensitive display screen 200.After gaining access to the wallet consolidator 100, the controller 110displays a menu of functions on the display screen 200 and the usermakes a selection by either using the user input cluster 130 to scrollthrough and select an option or directly selecting and option using thekeypad 150. The types of options include, but are not limited to,selecting a card to add or delete, duplicating information, transferringdata, moving cash or accessing various types of information such aselectronic coupons, identification information or medical records amongothers. Based on the selected option, the wallet consolidator 100, viathe display screen 200 traverses an action tree which instructs the useron the use of the wallet consolidator 100.

[0016] The data interface 140 and telephone interface 160 effectuatecommunication between the wallet consolidator 100 and various computingdevices such as, but not limited to, point of sale terminals, dumbterminals and databases. The data interface 140 uses a serial data port,a parallel data port or any other data communication technique. In asimilar fashion, the telephone interface 160 allows communication via awireline or wireless telecommunication network. Furthermore, theinfrared transceiver 190 and the radio frequency transceiver 210effectuate wireless communication between the wallet consolidator 100and various computing devices such as, but not limited to, point of saleterminals, dumb terminals and databases, which are equipped with asimilar infrared transceiver or radio frequency transceiver.

[0017] The wallet consolidator 100 allows an individual to swipe theircredit, debit, identification or other type cards through the magnetstripe reader/writer 220 and store the information contained in themagnetic stripe in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator 100, oralternatively in the memory of the smart card. The wallet consolidator100 also allows an individual to scan a bar code on a card using the barcode scanner 180 and store the bar code in the wallet consolidator 100,or alternatively in the memory of the smart card. Furthermore, theindividual can download the image of the cards, or other cards which donot have a magnetic stripe and, with sufficient memory, store adigitized image in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator 100, oralternatively in the memory of the smart card. Additionally, other typesof information can be stored in either the memory 120 of the walletconsolidator 100 or the memory of the smart card. Among other types ofinformation, items such as electronic coupons or food stamp balances canbe stored and then redeemed during a point of sale transaction.Communication with various computing devices such as, but not limitedto, point of sale terminals, dumb terminals and databases, can beeffectuated using the telephone interface 160, the radio frequencytransceiver 210, the infrared transceiver 190 or the display screen 200.

[0018] Referring additionally now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a flowdiagram of a preferred method for consolidating card information usingthe wallet consolidator 100 described in FIG. 1. Information stored onmagnetic stripes is entered into the wallet consolidator 100 by swipingthe subject identification, credit, debit or other type of card throughthe magnetic stripe reader/writer 220 to read the information from themagnetic stripe of the subject card (step 300). Alternatively, theinformation can be entered into the wallet consolidator 100 via the datainterface 140, the keypad 150, the telephone interface 160, the infraredtransceiver 190 or the radio frequency transceiver 210. The enteredinformation is stored in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator 100,or alternatively in the memory of the smart card (step 310).

[0019] Similarly, bar codes from the cards are scanned (step 320) andthe bar codes are stored in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator100, or alternatively, in the memory of the smart card (step 330).Alternatively, the information can be entered into the walletconsolidator 100 via the data interface 140, the keypad 150, thetelephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radiofrequency transceiver 210.

[0020] Still further, other information such as electronic coupons orimages such as portraits and signatures, are downloaded into the walletconsolidator 100 (step 332) and stored in the memory 120 of the walletconsolidator 100, or alternatively, in the memory of the smart card(step 334). The information can be downloaded into the walletconsolidator 100 via the data interface 140, the keypad 150, thetelephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radiofrequency transceiver 210.

[0021] To retrieve magnetic stripe information from the walletconsolidator 100, the user selects the desired information using eitherthe user input cluster 130 or the keypad 150 (step 340). Once theinformation has been selected, the information can be written onto amagnetic strip of the smart card or other multi-use card (step 350).Alternatively, the information which was selected can be communicated tovarious computing devices such as, but not limited to, point of saleterminals, dumb terminals and databases via the data interface 140, thetelephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radiofrequency transceiver 210.

[0022] Similarly, the user selects a desired bar code using either theuser input cluster 130 or the keypad 150 (step 360) and the selectedimage is displayed on the display screen 200 (step 370). Alternatively,the information which was selected can be communicated to variouscomputing devices such as, but not limited to, point of sale terminals,dumb terminals and databases via the data interface 140, the telephoneinterface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radio frequencytransceiver 210.

[0023] Still further, the user can select stored information, includingdownloaded information, (step 380) and display the selected information(step 390) or download the selected information (step 400) to variouscomputing devices such as, but not limited to, point of sale terminals,dumb terminals and databases via the data interface 140, the telephoneinterface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radio frequencytransceiver 210.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a perspective viewof a wallet consolidator 100. The wallet consolidator, shown generallyat 100, includes the controller 110 which is located internally and notshown, the memory 120 also located internally and not shown, the userinput cluster 130, the data interface 140, the keypad 150, the telephoneinterface 160, the smart card interface 170, the bar code scanner 180,the infrared transceiver 190, the display screen 200, the radiofrequency transceiver 210 and the magnetic stripe reader/writer 220.

[0025] Although the preferred embodiments of the apparatus and method ofthe present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawingsand described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it is understoodthat the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but iscapable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutionswithout departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth anddefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wallet consolidator comprising: a controllerfor controlling operation of the wallet consolidator; a magnetic stripereader/writer for reading and writing magnetic stripes; means forinputting user selections and commands; a memory for storing informationprovided to the wallet consolidator; and a smart card interface foreffectuating communication between the wallet consolidator and a smartcard.
 2. The wallet consolidator, as recited in claim 1 , wherein themeans for inputting user selections and commands is a user inputcluster.
 3. The wallet consolidator, as recited in claim 1 , wherein themeans for inputting user selections and commands is a keypad.
 4. Thewallet consolidator, as recited in claim 1 , further comprising adisplay screen for displaying text and graphics, the display screenfurther for displaying a bar code pattern capable of being scanned by abar code reader.
 5. The wallet consolidator, as recited in claim 4 ,wherein the display screen is a touch sensitive display screen furthereffectuating an input to the wallet consolidator.
 6. The walletconsolidator, as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a telephoneinterface for effectuating communication between the wallet consolidatorand computing devices via a telephone network.
 7. The walletconsolidator, as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a datainterface for effectuating communication between the wallet consolidatorand computing devices.
 8. The wallet consolidator, as recited in claim 7, wherein the data interface is effectuated using a serial data line. 9.The wallet consolidator, as recited in claim 7 , wherein the datainterface is effectuated using a parallel data line.
 10. The walletconsolidator, as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a bar codescanner for scanning bar codes.
 11. The wallet consolidator, as recitedin claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication interface. 12.The wallet consolidator, as recited in claim 11 , wherein the wirelesscommunication interface is effectuated using a radio frequencytransceiver.
 13. The wallet consolidator, as recited in claim 11 ,wherein the wireless communication interface is effectuated using aninfrared transceiver.
 14. A wallet consolidator comprising: a controllerfor controlling operation of the wallet consolidator; a magnetic stripereader/writer for reading and writing magnetic stripes; a keypad forinputting user selections and commands; a memory for storing informationprovided to the wallet consolidator; a smart card interface foreffectuating communication between the wallet consolidator and a smartcard; and a display screen for displaying text and graphics, the displayscreen further for displaying a bar code pattern capable of beingscanned by a bar code reader.
 15. A method for warehousing informationin a wallet consolidator comprising the steps of reading informationfrom a magnetic stripe; storing the information in a memory; selectinginformation, from among the stored information, to write to a magneticstripe; and writing the selected information on a magnetic stripe. 16.The method, as recited in claim 15 , wherein the step of storing theinformation in the memory comprises the step of storing the informationin a smart card, and further wherein, the step of writing the selectedinformation on the magnetic stripe further comprises the step ofretrieving the information from the smart card.
 17. The method, asrecited in claim 15 , further comprising the step of entering passcodeinformation.
 18. The method, as recited in claim 15 , further comprisingthe steps of: scanning a bar code from a card; storing the scanned barcode; selecting a stored bar code; and displaying the selected bar codeon a display screen for scanning by a bar code scanner.
 20. The method,as recited in claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: downloadinginformation; storing the downloaded information; selecting storedinformation; and downloading the selected information.